The topic of Pro-Life and Pro-Choice provokes strong reactions for many people. Not being a woman myself, I respectfully offer this reflection for Respect Life Month. I hope to offer a gentler perspective and new conversation. I think it is important to first recognize the common ground both sides have: The desire for compassion, supporting the would-be mother, and the impact on society.

Both sides seek compassion for the unborn child and mother, in their own way. Pro-life believes in protecting human dignity and right to life from conception to death. This is in cooperation with providing mothers, children, and families with the support they need to flourish. Pro-Choice would say that bringing an unwanted child into the world is irresponsible. Lack of access to abortion clinics could put women in the situation for improvised abortions. What if these situations are actually signs of a deeper issue in our society, culture and homes?

Supporting the would-be mother (or perhaps could-be mother is more accurate) is crucial whichever position we take. The true enemy is being another source of shame. Being in the situation of wondering “Do I need to get an abortion?” is difficult enough. What would a young mother need most at this time? What might she be feeling?

Is having families an old fashioned notion? In fact, McDonald’s had a rather interesting reaction to its recent Twitter campaign in Japan. It depicted a nuclear family of a father, a mother who was feeding her daughter a french fry. It caused a stir of controversy, not in Japan, but here in the west! The promo was so effective that it reached American Twitter and garnered over 70 million impressions. A 21 second clip of a loving family made a lot of people realize that maybe happiness is having and providing for a loving family. When was the last time families were portrayed that way here in American media? And this was only an ad for fast food in Japan. To me this is hopefully a small sign of change, one that our society desperately needs.

Let us pray that we can first change hearts, starting with our own. Let Christ take away our hearts of stone and give hearts of flesh to speak and act with love & compassion. Give us the will to change the world around us and the wisdom to recognize how we can act with hope in our hearts. What is the culture our media is promoting? What values and culture are we showing our youth? What is being taught in our schools? How can we be a better community for everyone around us? 

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